Anti-Gay Marriage Group Vows To End The Career Of Illinois Republicans Who Betray 'The Cause Of Marriage'

Lawmakers in Illinois and Rhode Island are set to consider
same-sex
marriage bills early this year, which could make them the
10th and 11th states to bring marriage equality to their
residents.

Illinois fell just short of introducing a marriage equality bill
last week before the end of the last legislative session, but
lawmakers plan to put a bill forward after the new session starts
January 9.

Rhode Island
introduced legislation for LGBT marriage
last week, which if passed would mean that same-sex couples will
have the right to get legally married in every state in New
England.

“We can no longer be the only New England state without marriage
equality,” State Rep. Gordon Fox said in a statement. “Rhode
Island must be next in enacting this basic civil right to marry
the one you love.” The outlook on whether the bill will actually
pass through the legislature is unclear.

Supporters in Illinois are more confident that their bill is a
winner. “We’re still working in Springfield very actively,” says
Jacob J. Meister, an attorney and chairman of the board of The
Civil Rights Agenda, a group that has long advocated for same-sex
marriage. “Even though the lame duck session is coming to an end,
we’ve got people on the ground.”

“In Illinois, it’s not a question of if it’s going to happen, but
when it’s going to happen,” Meister says. “The incoming general
assembly is fairly strong on the issue. We’ve got a number of new
members of the House and Senate who are proponents of marriage
equality.”

Members of the LGBT community
successfully campaigned against lawmakers who had voted against
civil unions two years ago, resulting in a more gay-friendly
lawmaking body.

“I think the common consensus in Illinois was that there was no
member who was hurt for having voted for civil unions,” says
Meister. “Clearly there was a price to pay for those members of
the general assembly who were not on our side.”

Unprecedented Gains

The usual pro-discrimination forces have spoken out, such as the
National Organization of Marriage which claims it will
retaliate against lawmakers who support marriage equality.
“Any Republican in Illinois who betrays the cause of
marriage will be casting a career-ending vote and will be held
accountable to their constituents,” NOM President Brian
Brown said in a statement.

However, the threats may have fallen on deaf ears, as Illinois
Republican Chairman Pat Brady has pledged support for the
measure.

The efforts in Illinois and Rhode Island follow a wave of
victories for civil rights proponents who saw unprecedented
advances in 2012 with hopes of even bigger things to come in the
upcoming year.

Maine on Dec. 30 became the second-to-last New England state to
implement marriage equality. Maryland and Washington also
recently put their LGBT marriage bills into effect after both
joined Maine in becoming the first states to pass equality laws
through a popular ballot last November.

LGBT marriage is also legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa,
Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Washington, D.C.

In what could be more good news for supporters of equality, the
U.S.
Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on March 26 and
27 on two cases, after which the justices could vote to strike
down the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act
which bans federal recognition of same-sex partners, invalidate
LGBT marriage bans in states nationwide, both, or neither.